There has been lots in the press and on TV about the threat to the summer festivals by striking intermittents. These are the casual workers, including actors and musicians, who work around the country to organise, promote and appear at the various festivals. From the very large festivals such as Avignon, Aix, Bourges, Nantes to the smallest, such as Varen Fete. The dispute seems to be about the unemployment and pension benefits of people who work intermittently in this business and the threats have brought intervention from Prime Minister Valls.
You may wonder at what the fuss is about, but the festivals are a major draw for the tourist industry - and France is the world's leading tourist destination. Apparently a wide spread strike in 2003 caused many festivals to be cancelled, costing millions to hotels and restaurants. Let's hope some solution can be found because summer here would not be the same without The Cordes Music Festival, or Jazz in Marciac or Le Riols en fete.
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